U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10 CFR Part 71 Quality Assurance and Inspection Experience

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission=s (NRC) regulations include requirements for quality assurance programs (QAPs) for entities that engage in the design and fabrication of packagings for the transportation of radioactive materials in Type B and fissile material packages. Prior to commencing activities subject to the NRC’s quality assurance (QA) requirements, an applicant for an NRC Certificate of Compliance (CoC) must submit a QAP description to the NRC for review and approval, and once approved, must develop implementing procedures to ensure compliance with the NRC=s QA requirements. The NRC conducts independent planned and reactive safety and compliance inspections of CoC/QAP holders to assess the adequacy of QAP implementation. Common findings of CoC/QAP holder design and fabrication (manufacturing) inspections are discussed.